Liquid aerator or pump



Nov. 9, 1965 A. A. THYREEN LIQUID AERATOR OR PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 11, 1963 INVENTOR.

ARTHUR A. THYREEN Y m R O G T T II A F Y B b I. w a. a. G1 0 0 \l f m 3 7 7x a a m n b 6 u |.|fl h 8 S Gxll. n I11 2 8 n c 2 8 6 2 2 .7 ii: LP 8 0 9 8 a 7 7 II. 2 m b 7 7 o 2 Nov. 9, 1965 A. A. THYREEN 3,216,650

LIQUID AERATOR OR PUMP Filed Feb. 11, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,216,650 LIQUID AERATOR 0R PUMP Arthur A. Thyreen, Lyndhurst, Ohio, assignor to The Metal Craft Company, Chardon, Qhio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Feb. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 257,447 6 Claims. (Cl. 230-55) The present invention relates to a liquid aerator or pump assembly.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid aerator especially adapted to be used as a minnow aerator, in aquariums, in bird baths, in water fountains, etc.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a self-contained liquid aerator or pump assembly including a pump and pump power means contained in one casing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a liquid aerator assembly with means for carrying the aerator thereof and for detachably connecting it onto the lip of any liquid container.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a liquid aerator or pump assembly characterized by its inexpensive manufacturing cost, ease of assembly of its component parts, structure of simplicity, strong and sturdy nature, ease of operation or use, low operating cost, and multiplicity of functional advantages provided by some of its component parts.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more fully apparent by reference to the appended claims as the following detailed description proceeds in reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention mounted upon a lip of a liquid container;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line 22 in FIG. 1 with the cover of the casing removed;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2 with the cover of the casing reassembled thereon; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the component parts within the casing rearranged and enlarged for ease of understanding.

Although this invention may be used for many different purposes, it has been specifically illustrated herein as being used as a minnow bucket aerator. Such aerator may be used also in an aquarium, bird bath, water fountain, etc. The fluid pump assembly may also be used as a pump, for pumping fluids other than air, and for other purposes.

FIG. 1 shows container 10, such as a minnow bucket commonly used by fishermen to keep their minnows alive and requiring aeration in order to keep the minnows alive. Container has peripheral lip 10a around its upper edge and is adapted to contain liquid 12 such as water for maintaining the minnows alive.

The present invention relates to a liquid aerator assem bly 15 for aerating liquid 12 in container 10. Assembly 15 includes aerator 17, bail detachably connecting aerator 17 on lip 10a, and conduit 22 on aerator 17 adapted to lead into liquid 12 (when aerator 17 is supported on lip 10a by bail 2G in the manner shown in FIG. 1) for conveying the aerating gas, such as air, from aerator 17 into liquid 12.

Aerator 17 includes fluid pump assembly 24 comprising casing 32; fluid pump 26; and pump power means 28 for driving pump 26, including pump drive motor 29 and motor energizing power source or energizer 30. Casing 32 encloses both pump 26 and power means 28.

Pump 26 and pump drive motor 29 have a simple, unified structure shown in FIG. 4. Pump 26 and motor 29 are connected together by connector or spool 37, preferably formed of magnetic material, such as steel. Conice nector 37 includes sleeve 38 having threads 38a screwed into threads 39a on hex nut 39.

Pump 26 is an electrically driven fluid pump. P mp 26 has housing 42 having outer shell or wall 42:: joined to coextensive inner and outer walls or shells 42b and 42g With a coextensive diaphragm 44 sandwiched together and having a common circular peripheral boundary sealed by a continuous circumferential crimp 42c. Vent 42d is formed in bottom shell 42a so that pump diaphragm 44, held at its peripheral edge by crimp 42c and located within housing chamber 45 in housing 42, will reciprocate properly. Bottom shell or wall 42a provides one wall of pump housing 42. Sleeve extension 390 on the upper end of hex nut 39 is telescoped into a central hole in the bottom of bottom shell 42a and swaged thereover. The upper side of diaphragm 44 and inner wall 42b define fluid pumping chamber 47. Top wall 42g of housing 32 has secured thereto both inlet port 49 and outlet port 50. Each port leads into chamber 47 through aligned inlet holes 49a, 4% or outlet holes 50a, 50b in walls 42b and 42g and one of the stamped pockets 42m formed between these walls. Each pocket 42m has a rubber flapper valve 43a or 431) secured on the side closest nut 63 by being sandwiched between walls 42b and 42g by crimp 42c and free about its other three sides to travel in and free of its pocket 42m by a swinging movement induced by differential fluid pressure. Rubber conduit 22 is telescoped over and retained by a friction fit on outlet port 50.

Drive motor or pump actuator 29 includes an electrically energized solenoid coil having its bore 60b telescoped over peripheral surface 38b on sleeve 38 and tightly secured thereto. Solenoid armature 62 is telescoped within bore 60b of coil 60. Armature 62 includes aluminum shaft 62a; steel sleeve or plunger 62b telescoped over and secured to shaft 62a; threaded steam 62c at its upper end secured to diaphragm 44 by two aluminum washers 61 sandwiched over diaphragm 44, telescoped over stem 62c, and locked against the shoulder on shaft 62a below stem 620 by nut 63 screwed into the threads on stem 620. Return head 65 is a plastic sleeve secured by a friction fit on rod 62a. Sleeve 38 and nut 39 have respectively axially aligned bores 38c and 39b telescoped over shaft 62a and guiding armature 62 during reciprocation, and have respectively lower and upper stop shoulders 38d and 39d adapted to engage, if necessary, respectively with plunger 62b and lower washer 61 to limit normal travel, or undesirable over travel, of armature 62 and diaphragm 44 in the opposite reciprocated directions. Spring 64, located between the lower end of solenoid coil 60 and switch blade 68, resiliently biases diaphragm 44 through armature 62 to the maximum volume pump chamber position illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein fluid pumping chamber 47 had its maximum volume position. Switch blade 68 has a slot or hole telescoped over shaft 62a and is pushed against return head 65 by spring 64.

The pumping action of fluid pump 26 is easily understood by having motor 29 energized by any suitable motor energizer or power source 30. Electrical contact or snapaction switch 66 is provided in the energizing circuit from power source 30 to solenoid coil 60, has movable switch blades 68 and fixed blade 67 joined by connector 69, and is normally closed in the maximum volume pump chamber position shown in FIG. 4 by spring 64 pressing movable switch blade 68 downwardly to engage the contact on fixed blade 67 to close electrical contact 66. This downward force exerted by spring 64 also moves armature 62 in the downward direction in FIG. 4 to move diaphragm 44 to this maximum volume position as fast as air, or any other suitable fluid, is sucked into chamber 47 through inlet port 49. Downward movement of diaphragm 44 causes a partial vacuum in pumping chamber 47 to suck outlet valve 43b down against outlet hole 50b to close this hole and to open inlet hole 49a by sucking inlet valve 43a down into its pocket 42m to open port 49 to permit air flow in through port 49 and to close port 50 to block off air flow out port 50. When electrical contact 66 is thus closed at the bottom of the stroke of armature .62 andchamber 47 is full of fluid at this maximum volume pump chamber position, solenoid coil 60 is energized by electric power source or energizer 30 so as to reciprocate or move armature 62 in the opposite, or upward direction in FIG. 4, and to move diaphragm 44 to a minimum volume pump chamber position to force at least some of the sucked in air out through outlet port 50. Then, the pressure within chamber 47 causes valve 43a to close inlet hole 49a and causes valve 43b to move away from and to open outlet hole 50b to permit air to be pumped out port 50 and to preventair flow through inlet port 49. Thus, electric power source or energizer 30 energizes coil 60 by an electrical circuit from electrical source 30 through lead 76, coil 60, lead 77, switch blade 68, closed contact 66, switch blade 67, and lead 78 to source 30 so as to energize solenoid coil 60 in response to contact 66 being in the closed position shown in FIG. 4 so as to move armature 62 upwardly to the minimum volume pump chamber position for pumping chamber 47. In this minimum volume position, contact 66 is open, having been opened by head 65, and the inertia of armature 62has been expended to push the air in chamber 47 out outlet port 50.

Casing 32 may be of any suitable structure but is disclosed herein as being 'built in the following manner. Casing 32 includes outer shells 70 and 71 including base shell 70 and cover shell 71 arranged in two halves with flange 70a in FIGS. 2 and 3 extending around the mouth of shell 70 and adapted to telescope within shell 71 to connect detachably these halves together by friction. Battery carrier 72, formed of sheet material, includes respectively interconnected two sides, bottom and back walls 72b, 72c and 72d made of electrically conductive material and top strip 72a of non-conductive material. Back wall 72d is welded to bracket 73 secured by screws -75 to casing 60a of solenoid coil 60. Bracket 74 has leg 74a secured to casing 60a by the same screws 75, leg 74b secured to switch connector 69, and two legs 74c and 74d secured to casing base shell 70 by screws 59.

This construction permits all of the parts inside casing 32 to be pre-assembled as a unit before insertion into casing 32. Slot 70b extends in from the mouth of shell 70 so that conduit 22 can be pre-assembled on port 50 with pump 26, motor 29, etc., and the whole internal assembly can be inserted into casing 32 and secured therein by screws 59.

Motor energizer 30 may be of any suitable construction, and is disclosed herein as either one or both of the following power sources:

(1) electric dry cell batteries 81 located within casing 32, and/ or (2) outside electric power source 83, such as a 6 or 12 volt D.C, electric supply found in an automobile battery, connected to assembly by wires at screw terminals 88 and 89.

Power source also includes power transfer switch 86, such as a slide switch having a contactor plate 86a reciprocal in opposite directions by tab 86b thereon, as shown by the horizontal arrows in FIG. 4. This manually actuatable power transfer switch 86 may be used for alternately connecting either outside power source 83, located outside casing 32, or batteries 81 through leads 76 and 78 to pump motor29.

Two parallel power circuits are provided to energize leads 76 and 78 in 'FIG. 4. Switch slide 86a, having an insulation slide strip with two electrical contacts protruding therethrough, is shown in the center or off position in FIG. 4 wherein motor 29 is de-energized and no aerating air is pumped into liquid 12. If slide 86a is 4 moved to the left by tab 86b extending out through a slot in shell 70, a first power circuit is formed from batteries 81 with this circuit extending from lead 78 through lead 79, terminal 80 in FIGS. 2 and 4, the two left hand batteries 81 in FIG. 2, bottom plate 720, the two right hand batteries 81 in FIG. 2, terminal 84, lead 85, and aligned switch contacts 86c to lead 76. If slide 86a is moved to the right, a second power circuit is formed from outside source 83 with this circuit extending from lead 78 through 87; terminal 88 in vFIGS. 2, 3 and 4; outside source 83; terminal 89; and aligned switch contacts 86d to lead 76.

The construction shown herein is especially adapted to and desirable for fishermen desiring to keep their minnows alive in container 10. Since power sources 81 and 83 can be alternatively used, leads 76 and 78 may be connected by the fisherman to the car battery, as outside source 83, while traveling to or from his fishing spot, and then leads '76 and 78 may be disconnected from car battery 83 and connected to batteries 81 by actuating switch 86 so that the aerator can be powered by batteries 81 when container 10 is carried to, and used at, the fishing spot. Also, car battery 83, or any other similar outside electric power source, may be used in an emergency when batteries 81 are either not available or are dead. Car battery 83 may be carried with container 10, if desired, such as when a long term current supply may be desirable. Suitable jumper cables may be connected from car battery 83 to terminals 88 and 89 to power assembly 15 at greater distance from the automobile, if so desired.

Bail 20 is pivotally connected at its lower or distal ends to aerator casing 32; is symmetrical about its vertical center line; and includes integrally formed from one piece of wire a cross bar 20a, opposite legs 20b, and inturned end 20c at the lower end of each leg located in axially aligned holes in casing 32 to provide the pivots. This bail forms a carrying handle for aerator 17. Cross bar 2011 is easily held in the clenched fist of a user thereof so as to permit assembly 15 to be carried from one container 10 to another. Each leg 20b has a hook or book means 20d thereon, formed by bending the wire of bail 20. These hooks 20d are easily mounted on lip 10a by following sequentially these steps:

(1) supporting assembly 15, by the hand of the user supporting top or cross bar 20a of bail 20, at one side of container 10 at about the same height as shown in FIG. 1;

(2) horizontally moving bail 20 toward container 10;

(3) engaging aerator casing32 against the side of container 10;

(4) continuing movement of bail 20 in the same direction until hooks 20d are in vertical alignment above lip 10a; and

(5) lowering bail 20 to connect detachably hooks 20d over lip 10a.

A manually adjustable aerator flow volume and pump speed control is provided. This includes a manually adjustable screw 90 having its threads 90b screw into threaded sleeve 92 secured in a hole in the wall of casing shell 70; having regulating knob or head 90a on one end; and having a metal disk backed, rubber washer 91 secured to the other end. Compression spring 93 .is telescoped over threads 90b and sleeve 92 so as to prevent during reciprocation of armature 62 loosening of screw 90 -by vibration from any preset position. Any rotation of regulating knob 90a will advance washer 91 toward or away from inlet port 49 so as to control the vibrating speed of pump diaphragm 44, to control the rate of fluid flow through inlet port 49 by changing the effective orifice size of inlet port 49, and to control the supply or rate of aeration so as to provide the proper air for any fish in liquid 12. If the minnows or other fish in liquid 12 rise to the surface, and thus indicate a lack-of sufficient air, rotation of knob 90a to move rubber washer 91 farther away from inlet port 49 will increase the speed of pump 26 and the quantity of air injected into liquid 12 by conduit 22.

During this pumping action, downward movement of diaphragm 44 in FIG. 4 by spring 64 sucks air into pumping chamber 47 only through inlet port 49 and not through port 50 because of not only the action of valves 43a and 5317 but also the fact that the outlet end of conduit 22 is buried below the surface of liquid 12 so as to provide a Water seal in conduit 22 resisting inlet air travel into chamber 47 through conduit 22 and outlet port 50.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive with the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by US. Letters Patent is:

1. An assembly for aerating a liquid in a container, comprising:

(a) an aerator,

(b) a conduit on said aerator adapted to lead into said liquid to convey the aerating gas from the aerator into said liquid,

(c) supporting means on said aerator for mounting said aerator on a peripheral lip of said container with said conduit leading into said liquid,

(d) a bail pivotally connected to said aerator to form a carrying handle for said aerator,

(c) said supporting means including portions of said bail bent in the form of a hook means detachably engageable on said lip,

(f) whereby said aerator is mounted on said lip by sequentially supporting said assembly by the hand of the user supporting the top of said bail, horizontally moving said bail toward said container, engaging said aerator against the side of said container, continuing movement of said bail in the same direction until said supporting means is in vertically alignment above said lip, and lowering said bail to connect detachably said supporting means over said lip.

2. An assembly for aerating a liquid in a container, comprising:

(a) an aerator,

(b) a conduit on said aerator adapted to lead into said liquid to convey the aerating gas from the aerator into said liquid,

(c) said aerator including (1) a fluid pump, (2) a motor for driving said pump, and (3) a casing enclosing said pump and motor,

(d) said fluid pump being an electrically actuated pump,

(e) a motor energizer within said casing including:

(1) electric batteries located within said casing,

(2) electrical leads from said pump adapted to be connected to a power source outside said casing, and

(3) a manually actuatable power transfer switch for alternatively connecting either said outside power source through said leads or said batteries to said motor.

3. An assembly for aerating a liquid in a container, comprising:

(a) an aerator,

(b) a conduit on said aerator adapted to lead into said liquid to convey aerating gas from the aerator into said liquid,

(c) said aerator including (1) a fluid pump, (2) a motor for driving said pump, and (3) a casing enclosing said pump and motor,

(d) said casing comprising a metal shell formed in two halves detachably connected together,

(e) batteries energizing said motor and located within said casing,

(f) a bail pivotally connected to said casing to form a carrying handle for said aerator, and

(g) a supporting means for mounting said aerator on said lip with said conduit leading into said liquid,

(h) said supporting means including portions of said bail bent in the form of hook means detachably engageable on said lip, t

(i) whereby said aerator is mounted on said lip by sequentially supporting said assembly by the hand of the user supporting the top of said bail, horizontally moving said bail toward said container, engaging said aerator against the side of said container, continuing movement of said bail in the same direction until said supporting means is in vertical alignment above said lip, and lowering said bail to connect detachably said supporting means over said lip.

4. A fluid pump assembly, comprising:

(a) a fluid pump including:

( 1) a housing, and

(2) a diaphragm (b) said housing having:

(1) an inlet port, and

(2) an outlet port on one side of said diaphragm defining with said housing a fluid pumping chamber; and

(c) a pump actuator including:

(1) an electrically energized solenoid coil, and

(2) an armature reciprocally driven in at least one direction by said solenoid coil and being operatively connected to said diaphragm;

(d) said armature (1) being reciprocable in one direction to move said diaphragm to a maximum volume pump chamber position while sucking in fluid through said inlet port, and

(2) being reciprocable in the opposite direction to move said diaphragm to a minimum volume pump chamber position to force at least some of said sucked-in fluid out of said pumping chamber through said outlet port,

(e) a manually adjustable orifice control means controlling the fluid flow through one of said ports for controlling the speed of said pump,

(f) said last mentioned port being said inlet port,

(g) said orifice control means including:

(1) a manually adjustable screw rotatable for changing the etfective orifice size of said inlet port, and

(2) a biased spring telescoped over said screw to prevent during reciprocation of said armature vibration loosening of said screw from a preset position.

5. A fluid pump assembly, comprising:

(a) a fluid pump including (1) a housing, and

(2) a diaphragm (b) said housing having (1) an inlet port, and

(2) an outlet port on one side of said diaphragm defining with said housing a fluid pumping chamber; and

(c) a pump actuator including (1) an electrically energized solenoid coil, and

(2) an armature reciprocally driven in at least one direction by said solenoid coil and being operatively connected to said diaphragm;

((1) said armature (1) being reciprocable in one direction to move said diaphragm to a maximum volume pump chamber position While sucking in fluid through said inlet port, and

(2) being reciprocable in the opposite direction to move said diaphragm to a minimum volume pump chamber position to force at least some of said sucked-in fluid out of said pumping chamber through said outlet port,

(e) means resiliently biasing said diaphragm and armature to said maximum volume pump chamber position,

(f) an electrical contact in the energizing circuit of said solenoid coil normally closed in said maximum volume position,

(g) means connecting said solenoid coil through said contact for energization of said solenoid coil by an electric power source in response to said contact being in said closed position for moving said armature to said minimum volume pump chamber position,

.(h) a spool,

(i) said solenoid coil being telescoped over and secured to one end of said spool,

(j) one wall of said pump housing being telescoped over and secured to the other endof said spool,

(k) said spool having a bore telescoped over and guiding said armature during reciprocation,

(1) both said inlet port and said outlet port being in one wall of said pump housing forming said pumping chamber with said diaphragm, and

(m) a manually adjustable orifice controlling means for controlling the fluid flow through said inlet port for controlling the speed of said pump, said orifice control means including:

(,1) a manually adjustable screw rotatable for changing the efiective orifice size of said inlet port, and v (2) a spring telescoped over and biasing such screw to preventduring reciprocation of said armature any vibration loosening of said screw from a preset position.

6. An assembly, as set forth in claim 5, for aerating a liquid inacontainer having a peripheral lip, with:

(a) :an aerator including:

(1) said fluid pump assembly including said fluid pump and pump actuator,

(2) anenergizer for energizing said pump actuator,

and

(3) a casing enclosing said pump and energizer and comprising a metal shell formed in two halves and detachably connected together,

(b) said energizer including:

.( 1) electric batteries located within said casing,

(2) electrical leads from said solenoidcoil adapted to be connected to a power source outside said casing, and

(3) a manually actuatable power transfer switch for alternatively connecting either said outside power source through said leads or said batteries to said solenoid coil,

(c) a bail pivotally connected to said casing to form a carrying handle for said aerator,

(d) a supporting means for mounting said aerator on said lip with said conduit leading intosaid liquid,

(B) said supporting means including portions of said bail bent in the form of a hook means detachably engageable on said lip,

(f) whereby said aerator is mounted on said lip by sequentially supporting said assembly by the hand of the user supporting the top of said bail, horizontally moving said bail toward said container, engaging said aerator against the side of said container, continuing movement of said bail in the same direction until said hook means is in vertical alignment above said lip, and lowering said bail to connect detachably said hook means over said lip,

(g) a conduit on the outlet port of said pump and adapted to lead into said liquid to convey the aerating gas from the pump into said liquid when said aerator is mounted on said lip;

(h) said fluid pump comprising inrsaid housing and diaphragm said housing comprising three coextensive walls including two outer walls and an inner wall, and

(i) a coextensive diaphragm sandwiched together,

(j) said walls and diaphragm having a common peripheral boundary sealed by a generally continuing crimp,

(k) said inner wall and diaphragm defining said fluid pumping chamber,

(l) the outer wall located on the opposite side of said inner wall from said diaphragm having therein said inlet port and said outlet port,

(m) said inner wall having an inlet hole and an outlet hole respectively aligned with said inlet port and out let port,

(n) an inlet and an outlet rubber valveeach having one edge sandwiched between and held by said inner wall and last mentioned outer wall at these respectively named ports,

(0) said inner wall at said inlet port and said last mentioned outer wall at said outlet port each having a stamped pocket bottoming away from its valve so that the edges of each valve other than said one edge are free to move in response to vclitferential fluid .pressure either into its pocket to open its associated port or out of said pocket against its associated wall to close its port.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 862,867 8/07 Eggleston 230-9470 1,789,694 1/31 Beman 23055 1,895,602 1/33 Brown 230l 2,429,441 10/47 Williams 23055 2,552,261 5/51 Coughlin 230 2,605,957 8/52 Houston 230.-170 2,638,849 5/53 Budlane 103--53 2,678,512 5/54 Maston 4357 2,788,170 4/57 Kato et a1. 230-23 2,806,432 9/57 Brooks 103-38 LAURENCE V. EFNER, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT M. WALKER, Examiner. 

1. AN ASSEMBLY FOR AERATING A LIQUID IN A CONTAINER, COMPRISING: (A) AN AERATOR, (B) A CONDUIT ON SAID AERATOR ADAPTED TO LEAD INTO SAID LIQUID TO CONVEY THE AERATING GAS FROM THE AERATOR INTO SAID LIQUID, (C) SUPPORTING MEANS ON SAID AERATOR FOR MOUNTING SAID AERATOR ON A PERIPHERAL LIP OF SAID CONTAINER WITH SAID CONDUIT LEADING INTO SAID LIQUID, (D) A BAIL PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID AERATOR TO FORM A CARRYING HANDLE FOR SAID AERATOR, (E) SAID SUPPORTING MEANS INCLUDING PORTIONS OF SAID BAIL BENT IN THE FORM OF A HOOK MEANS DETACHABLY ENGAGEABLE ON SAID LIP, (F) WHEREBY SAID AERATOR IS MOUNTED ON SAID LIP BY SEQUENTIALLY SUPPORTING SAID ASSEMBLY BY THE HAND OF THE USER SUPPORTING THE TOP OF SAID BAIL, HORIZONTALLY MOVING SAID BAIL TOWARD SAID CONTAINER, ENGAGING SAID AERATOR AGAINST THE SIDE OF SAID CONTAINER, CONTINUING MOVEMENT OF SAID BAIL IN THE SAME DIRECTION UNTIL SAID SUPPORTING MEANS IS IN VERTICALLY ALIGNMENT ABOVE SAID LIP, AND LOWERING SAID BAIL TO CONNECT DETACHABLY SAID SUPPORTING MEANS OVER SAID LIP. 